No movie defined the 1980s more than "Dirty Dancing" did. If you think you’re a bit of a Dirty Dancing guru, then prepare to be surprised. Let's go back to the 80s!
Things You Never Knew About The Movie Dirty Dancing
#1 The lake scene was filmed in 40-degree water.
It was filmed during October so the water was ice cold. In fact, no close-up shots were shown, because the actor's lips were blue from what Swayze once called "hypothermically cold" water.
#2 Sarah Jessica Parker auditioned for the role of Baby.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Billy Zane auditioned to be the leads but didn't get them. So did Sharon Stone and Jamie Lee Curtis. Curtis was already signed on when she backed out due to other commitments.
#3 Val Kilmer was offered the role of Johnny but declined.
He later told reporters that it was one of the biggest career disappointments he ever made. Hmmm. Bet he'd of been amazing!
#4 Patrick Swayze had to convince Jennifer Grey to accept the role.
The two didn't get along while filming Red Dawn so she almost passed on the role of Baby until Swayze convinced her she would be making a mistake.
#5 But still, the two stars still didn't get along perfectly this time either.
In fact, the scene where Johnny looks annoyed with Baby when rehearsing their choreographed dance wasn't staged he really was frustrated that she kept laughing. We love that the producers decided to keep it in the end.
#6 The lift at the very end of the movie wasn't rehearsed.
Because Grey was too scared and refused to practice beforehand. Lucky for her, they nailed it in one take and she hasn't done the move since (that's the epitome of one and done).
#7 The leaves in the field scene had to be spray painted green.
The movie was filmed in October, which is peak leaf-changing season, so the set decorators went around and spray painted every discolored or dead leaf green to make the field look like summer.
#8 This famous scene was never part of the script or to be used in the final movie.
The two were warming up to film when this happened, so the director kept it in because he thought it was "beautiful" and "emotional".
#9 Swayze tried to cut out the most famous line from the movie.
The best line of the film "Nobody put's baby in the corner" was nearly axed because Swayze wasn't a fan of the wording. Thank god he didn't get his way because it has become a culture phrase and still remembered as one of the most memorable lines in movie history.
#10 The story was inspired by screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein's life.
She also grew up in Brooklyn with a doctor father, visited the Catskills during the 1960s, was called "Baby," and learned how to dance at house parties. But in an interview with The Age in 2005, she admitted there's also a lot of Johnny in her she knows all of those "dirty" dance moves too!
#11 The film almost went straight to VHS.
The first test audiences hated the movie, leading producers to consider skipping theaters and opting for a direct-to-video release. Conan O'Brien asked viewers of his talk show to send letters to the production company demanding it be re-released. However, after the studio ultimately agreed he admitted he didn't even like the movie very much.
#12 Certain characters and actors were meant to play different roles.
Kelly Bishop who played Baby's mum was initially supposed to play the role of Vivian Pressman the "Bungalow Bunny" but got swapped. And, unbelievably, Dr. Ruth was cast as Mrs. Schumacher but when she found out her character was rewritten as a thief she opted out of the film.
#13 The song “She’s Like the Wind” was sung by Patrick Swayze and co-written by Swayze and Stacy Widelitz.
"She's Like the Wind" was originally written for the movie Grandview, U.S.A, which co-starred Jamie Lee Curtis, who was supposed to play Baby, but was used in Dirty Dancing instead.
